It’s like a story author Nicholas Sparks could write a book about. On Thursday, August 27, Daniel Rogers died after a long illness at age 86. The same day, his wife, Mary Frances Rogers died suddenly of a broken heart at age 83. They were married for 60 years and resided on Beach 92nd Street for 54 of them.
Much like the story of Allie and Noah in fictional tale, “The Notebook,” this real Rockaway Beach couple, Danny and Frankie, met on a blind date at a fair—The World’s Fair in 1965. “Frankie always said she knew she was going to marry him that same night,” their shared obituary on the Denis S. O’Connor Funeral Home website reads.
Like the character, Noah, Danny Rogers, originally of Brooklyn, had served in the military, proudly serving in the United States Navy. He later retired as a 2nd-grade detective with the NYPD. Also like the character, Danny was known as a “hard worker” and a notorious handyman who collected many tools, earning him the nickname, “gadget man.”
Some may know Frankie Rogers from her days as a local school secretary. Born in London, England, and raised in Sheffield, England, Frankie Dowd emigrated to New York at the age of 18. She worked as an executive secretary for NY Oil and was the school secretary at St. Camillus for many years. Known for finding joy in doing for others, Frankie affectionately became known as the “card lady,” for never forgetting to send a birthday card, anniversary card or a simple note of support.
Both are remembered for having a “great sense of humor…they loved to laugh,” the obituary said. They were both devoted parents, grandparents, and of course, spouses.
Even better than the story of Allie and Noah, who were separated for a time in “The Notebook,” Danny and Frankie’s love was a forever kind of thing. “They had a loving marriage for 60 years where they faced all of life’s joys and hardships TOGETHER,” the obituary reads.
Together, they had three children, Keith (Dana), Stacey Foye (Patrick), and Martin (Cindy), and seven grandchildren: Krista, Patrick, Luke, Jonathan, Joseph, Darci and Declan. They will also be deeply missed by siblings, nieces, nephews and friends.
A joint wake will be held on Thursday, September 3 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at O’Connor Funeral Home. The funeral Mass will be on Friday, September 4 at 10 a.m. at St. Camillus. They will be buried together at Calverton National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation or the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation in memory of Danny Jegle.
